Skein dyer



June 9, 1942. A. ROBERTSON 1 SKEIN DYER Filed Dec. 11, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l A. ROBERTSON SKEIN mmri Fiied Dec. 11, 19:59 KSheets-Shgei 2 June 9, 1942.

June 9 1942. A. RoBR'rsoN 2,286,107

SKBIN DYER I Filed .Dec. 11, 1939 3 She ets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1 76am Patented June 9, 1942 UNITE ST T S SKEIN DYER Alexander Robertson, Mount Airy,

Pa., assignor to Venango Engineering 00.,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 11, 1939, Serial No. 308,730

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating textile materials, such as yarns in skeins or hanks, piece goods or continuous webs, etc., with an aqueous medium, such as dye liquor, bleaching, washing or other processing solution, or clear water for rinsing purposes.

In the course of manufacturing yarn, single or multiple strands respectively composed of staple lengths of natural animal or vegetable fibers or synthetic fibers, alone or intermixed one with the other, or continuous filaments of natural or synthetic silk or the like, are wound on a reel in parallel and/or overlapping cross sectionally bunched relation to each other to form a ring, the cross sectional relationship of the strands being retained by bands or strings encircling the bunched strands at intervals around the ring preparatory to removal of the ring from the reel. These rings are known as skeins or hanks.

Prior to the present invention it has been known to place the ring-like skeins on smaller reels for treatment by various kinds of liquids, with the axes of the reels disposed horizontally, in order that the upper portion of each skei-n will rest on and be supported by the reel whilethe lower portion of the skein hangs freely in the form of a loop below the supporting reel. Treating liquids or fluids have been sprayed against the outside of the hanging skeins from spray heads or perforated pipes; disposedsubstantially parallel to the axes of the reels, externally of the skeins; and against the inside of the skeins by similar pipes arranged below the reels within the hanging loop portions of the skeins. The reels have been rotated intermittently to bring different portions of the skeins successively into position for impingement by the treating solution.

In a subsequent development of skein processing apparatus, the skeins have been supported by a horizontal tube having perforations in its upper side through which the processing fiuid' passed and impinged directly against the portions of the skeins disposed over the perforations in the tube. In this case the tube has been rotated intermittently to bring different portions of theskeins into position above the perforations, as rotation of the tube ceased with the perforations pointing upwardly.

In a still later development, each tube was made elliptical or oval in cross-section, with perforations along one side of the tube, the axis of rotation of the tube being nearer to one end of the oval than the other, whereby the imperforate side of the tube moved in a circular path about the axis of the tube and lifted and advanced the skeins across the tube to bring different portions of the material into position above the upwardly pointing perforations when the tube stopped.

In still further developments, the perforated tube was caused to remain stationary and a separate relatively rotatable skein lifting rod was spaced from and caused to rotate about the axis of the tube in a manner similar to the imperiorate side of the oval tube above noted, to' advance the skeins across the tube;

In another instance alongitudinally slotted sleeve revolved about the tube, intermittently, to cut off the flow from the perforations, while a lateral extension of the sleeve, corresponding to the imperforate side of the oval tube above noted, lifted and advanced the skeins across the tube, the sleeve stopping with its slot aligned with the perforations in the upper side of the tube to permit impingement of the fluid against the portions of the skeins lying across the slot in the sleeve.

In other instances, thestationary tube was provided with additional stationary means for supporting the skeins and to provide elongated slots through which the treating medium was discharged against the ortions of the skeins lying across and between the supplementary supports, a rotary lifting rod being also provided to lift and advance the skeins across the support.

Each of the above notedprior art. devices advanced the skeins in steps greater than the width of the area of contact of the fluid with the material, consequently intervening portions of the skeins were not brought into position to be directly engaged by the fluid. emanating from the tube. Thus, when the apparatus was used for dyeing purposes, the dyeing of the skeins was more or less spotty and not uniform throughout. Furthermore, in instances where the dye liquor impinged directly against the strands of which the skeins were composed, such impingement had a tendency to disintegrate the strands under the pressure of the fluid as it discharged from the perforations in the tube. Furthermore, when the flow of fluid from the tube was shut off and the fluid drained back through the tube the drainage caused such a suction through the discharge openings in the tube that the fibers of the skeins were pulled into the openings and frequently damaged as the skeins were being removed from the support. Also, the lifting of the skeins during the dyeing operation exposed the yarn to the atmosphere and tended to cause oxidation thereof.

One object of the present invention is to produce an apparatus which will eliminate damage to the skeins by impingement and/or suction of the dyeing liquor.

Another object of the invention is to produce a rotatable support for the skeins which will bring all parts of each skein successively into position to be engaged by the dye liquor without lifting of the skeins and thus produce uniform non-oxidizing dyeing thereof.

Another object of the invention is to construct the rotary support in such a manner, with respect to the liquor supplying tube, as to provide a pair of parallel weirs on the upper side of the tube across which the skeins will extend and by which the liquor discharged from the perforations in the tube between said weirs is caused to rise as a quiescent body between the weirs and effect an arched floating support for the material, whereby a portion of the dye liquor will escape over the weirs and run down the inside of the skeins while other portions of the dye liquor rising between the weirs and floating the skeins will pass through the material between the yarns to the outside thereof and run down the outside of the skein, thereby enclosing the material completely in an envelope composed of the dye liquor or other fluid and thus prevent oxidation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to construct the support so as to cause the material to be supported well above the fluid discharge tube and thereby prevent contact between the material and tube at all times, thus preventing damage to the material by the above noted drainage suction.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a dyeing machine embodying a material support made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the support taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the support taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the support;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a skein in position on the support;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the dye liquor under pressure and arching the upper portion of the skein with respect to the support;

Fig. 7 is a, fragmentary section taken on the line I, I, Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 1, the machine comprises a dye vat or tank I supported at one end by a suitable frame work 2 and at the opposite end by a framework 3. The framework 3 is provided with a housing 4 which extends above the open top of the tank I and encloses operating parts of the machine which forms no part of the present invention per se, such as means for rotating the support intermittently. etc., commonly used in such machines.

One end of the skein support 5, which forms the subject matter of the present invention, is mounted in the housing 4. The support 5 projects horizontally from the housing 4, above the open top of the tank I, whereby the surplus liquid running down the skeins which are hanging on the support 5 is returned to the tank I. This liquid is drawn from the bottom of the tank I, through a pipe I connected to the suction side of a centrifugal pump 8, which, in the present or tube II] is maintained against rotation andlongitudinal movement with respect to its support I2 by any suitable means.

R/otatably mounted on the tube I0, adjacent the bearing I2. is a head I3 which forms part of the support of the present invention. The outer free end of the tube II? is closed by a suitable plug l4 and has rotatably mounted thereon 'a second head I5 which also forms part of the support of the present invention. Extending parallel to the axis of the tube Ill between the heads I3 and I5, is a series of bars I6, I6.

The bars I6, in the present instance, are equiangularly arranged about the axis of the tube I0, there being three bars arranged at apart. These bars are secured at their opposite ends respectively to the heads I3 and I5, by bolts l1 and I8. The outer edge I9 of each bar I6 is convexed to provide a smooth support for the skeins and the inner edge 20 of each bar is concaved on substantially the same radius as the outside of the tube I0, to provide a smooth working arrangement therebetween.

To prevent the flow of fluid between the bars I6 and the outer surface of the tube II), each of the bars I5 is longitudinally grooved, as indicated at 2 I, for the reception of a roller 22 which is forced into contact with the outer surface of the tube ID by an undulated flat spring 23 having bearing against the base of the groove 2I and the outer surface of the roller 22, the width of the groove 2| being but slightly in excess of the diameter of the roller 22 by which close sealing fit is provided.

The upper portion of the tube I0 is provided with a series of perforations or transverse slots' 25, to provide communication with the interior of the tube for the liquid to escape from the interior of the tube II] to the exterior thereof between the two upper bars I6, I6, which are disposed at divergent angles to a longitudinal plane extending vertically through the axis of the tube I0, whereby these upper bars act as weirs. A body of liquid as is dammed up between the divergent weirs I6, I6 to a level g which is spaced above the upper perforated side of the tube I0, said body of liquid remaining in a quiescent state and overflowing around the outer edges I9, I9 of the divergent weir bars I6, I6 to normally retain the level y well above the perforated surface of the tube I0, whereby the skeins of yarn when placed on the support 5, as indicated in Fig. 5, are prevented from making contact with the perforated surface of the tube It].

With the skeins in position on the support 5,

as shown in Fig. 5, overflow of the liquid :1. around.

the convexed edges of the weirs I6, I6 is retarded. Such a retardation causes the quiescent body of liquid as lying in the channel C formed by and between the upper bars I6, I6 and the upper surface of the tube I0 to expand vertically, as indicated at ml in Fig. 6.

The compactness of the strands constituting the skeins A. causes a pressure to build up in. said fluid channel C between the weirs, the tube, and the portions a of the skeins extending across the 6 at one side of the tube II], to the other'weir I6 at the opposite side of the tube. This pressure of the liquid builds up sufiiciently to raise or arch the skeins, as indicated in Fig. 6, to a certain height above and across the channel, whereupon the static pressure of the liquid body :vI causes the liquid to force its way outwardly through the skein portions a, between the adjacent strands of which the skeins are composed, as indicated in Fig. 6 and Fig. '7.

Arching of the skeins across the fluid channel C by the built-up pressure of the quiescent body of liquid ml also tends to move the skeins outwardly from the convexed edges I9 of the divergent weir bars IS, IS, whereby a small amount of the liquid in the body ml is permitted to escape over said weirs and run down the inside of the lower loop portion AI of each skein A, this liquid together with the liquid which has forced its way through the skeins to the outer surface there, as indicated in Fig. 6, producing a complete envelope of liquid around each skein and preventing oxidization thereof. In addition, the penetration of the skeins by the liquid as indicated in Fig. 7, permits the liquid to flow downwardly in the loop portion AI of each skein A between the individual strands of which the skein is composed. Thus, each strand is substantially enveloped in a film of the dye liquor.

Reference to Fig. 6 shows that the portion a of each skein A which extends across the support from the one weir bar to the other lies in direct contact with the body of liquid :L'I in the channel C, into which said liquid is forced by the pump 8 from the tank I. After this portion a of the skein A has been exposed to the dye liquor in the channel C for a predetermined length of time, the three weir bars I6, I6, I6 are rotated in unison about the axis of the tube I0, until the lower previously inactive weir bar I6 assumes the position vacated by the left-hand weir bar and the left-hand weir bar has assumed the position vacated by the right-hand weir bar,

channel from the weir I which later moves to the inactive position directly below the axis of the tube I0. By such movement of the weir bars a corresponding portion al of each skein immediately succeeding the portion a which is advanced across and hangs down from the right-hand side of the support 5 is carried across the tube IEI into the position shown in Fig. 5.

As the three weir bars rotate in unison, the body of liquid ml which has built up in the channel C between the twoupper weir bars and the channel-bridging portion a of the skein A discharges over the convexed edge of the righthand weir bar I6, as it moves to the inactive position, the liquid thus discharged being directed against the right-hand leg A2 of the depending loop portion AI of the skein A, thus, flooding this portion of the skein with the excess of liquor.

The liquor running down the inside and outside of the skein drains from the lower portion (1 of the loop, as indicated at $2 back into the tank I for recirculation by the pump 8.

The intermittent rotation of the support 5 including the heads I3 and I5 and the three weir bars 55 may be effected by any suitable mechanism contained within the housing 4, for example, by any well lmown pawl and ratchet mechanism, Geneva movement, etc. operatively connected to the head I3,

and for this purpose the head I3 is provided with a suitable gear or ratchet wheel 26.

As shown in Fig. 3 each of the heads I3 and I5 is provided with a flange 27, between the two of which the skeins are placed in snug laterally abutting relation and held in position on the bars I6, I 6 against movement longitudinally of the tube I0. Each flange 2! is rounded at its outer peripheral edge, as indicated at 28, to prevent chafing of the yarn in the skeins lying next adjacent to the flanges.

The outer end of the head I5 is closed by a smooth surfaced plate 29 secured in position as by counter-sunk head screws 30, 30, to prevent any sharp edges being presented to the skeins as they are being placed on or taken off the support 5 over the head I5 at the outer end thereof.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the device of the present invention overcomes the various objectionable characteristics of the prior art devices, such as damaging the yarn as a result of the threads being drawn into the perforations of the supply tube when the tube drains; damage by direct impingement of the dye liquor against the yarn overlying the perforations in the tube; chafing of the yarn by frictional contact with the lifting devices which advance the skein across the supply tube; oxidization of the yarn by lifting the skeins into the atmosphere and by cutting off the supply while the skeins are being lifted and advanced across the tube; loss of time resulting from lifting the skeins and cutting off the supply of liquor during such lifting; and spotty dyeing by bringing only relatively spaced portions of the skeins into contact with the dye liquor directly as it is discharged from the supply tube.

Furthermore, spraying or impinging the dye liquor against the skeins and/or immersing the skeins at intervals are ineflicient as such processes do not produce circulation of the dyestufi through and between the closely packed component yarns of the skeins or rapid complete saturation of the skeins such 'as is accomplished by the device of the present case in causing the skeins, and, third, cause an overflow from the channel to run down the inside of the skeins to effect complete enveloping of the skeins to the exclusion of contact of the skeins with the surrounding atmosphere, thus avoiding oxidization.

It is customary in devices of the kind herein described, especially when the apparatus is used for dyeing purposes, to heat the liquid in the tank to a predetermined temperature, frequently to a temperature of approximately 212". In the case of the present invention, the temperature of the liquid is more easily maintained by reason of the liquid being held in a relatively large quiescent body which reduces the exposed surliquid is sprayed against the material and thereby broken up into small bodies with greater aggregate surface and exposed to the atmosphere, which causes rapid chilling of the liquid.

I claim:

A textile processing apparatus comprising a fixed horizontally disposed tube provided with fluid discharge openings in its upper side, a material support rotatably mounted on said tube and comprising at least three bars paralleling said tube and extending radially from the axis thereof, with two of said bars in divergent relation at opposite sides respectively of the openings in the upper side of said tube to form a channel to hold fluid discharged from said openings, a pair of heads 'at opposite ends respectively of said bars to tie said bars together as a unit and to cooperate therewith to produce said channel above said tube, the inner edges of said bars lying adjacent said tube being grooved from one to the other of said heads, sealing bars mounted in said grooves in contact with the outer surface of said tube, and resilient means in said grooves behind said bars to insure contact of said bars with said tube.

ALEXANDER ROBERTSON. 

